In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers Podcast, we speak with Mike Leggett, Chief Supply Chain Officer for La-Z-Boy, who has also progressed through positions at Kimberly Clark, Abbott Laboratories, Masonite, and Dentsply Sirona. Mike got his start in supply chain pursuing finance at Ohio State, but after attending a Transportation Logistics Association meeting and enjoying the free pizza, found that a speaker from Big Lots inspired him to look further into supply chain. He shares his transitions and growth path on the way up to CSCO, knowing he wanted to be a leader. Mike provides his thoughts about how to establish breadth of experiences, including vital operations experience, that helps him lead a broad team of VPs. He shares his mentors' advice and the value of being a servant leader. He also seeks continuous feedback and asks as many questions as he can about how he is doing and the directions he should be taking. Mike highly values curiosity, intelligence, and analytic capabilities, but values attitude most of all. In this episode Mike also addresses international experiences, networking, establishing relationships, setting proper expectations, and asking what more you can do.

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n this episode of the Supply Chain Careers Podcast, we talk with Lee Beard, a supply chain executive with extensive experience at companies such as Coca-Cola, Nordstrom, Nike and Dell. Lee knew he wanted to be an engineer because his dad was a manufacturing guy, but then made his way into logistics where he saw a future. He has achieved his career goal of leading large teams and organizations. To get there he knew he needed greater financial understanding, so he got an MS in Management with a focus on finance and operations. He offers his perspective of what it means to manage a truly global supply chain at a large scale. Lee says the diversity of talent in supply chain has changed dramatically for the better. He provides his concerns about supply chain professionals being able to see through the fog of many proposed new technologies and whether they have the ability to work and to scale. Lee provides his career development advice, particularly when you are trying to lead others. He also provides his thoughts about the value of being part of associations to learn and to build relationships. Lee closes with his thoughts about sustainability

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In this episode, Chris Gaffney, Rodney Apple, and Mike Ogle synthesize each lesson from the entirety of the SCC Leadership Series. In this 20th episode, they discuss ways that your team can benefit from these lessons and how to implement a lot of these practices across your organization. Chris emphasizes that these best practices in leadership are not limited to supply chain practices. So share across your networks and help others become better leaders and improve their own career success.

Leadership is something that is developed over time by those who seek knowledge and understanding. This can only be done if an individual is willing to follow and be proactive about their own growth. Gap analysis, blind spots, seeking mentors, and humility are all keys to succeeding and growing as a leader. We show you how this can be done and encourage aspiring leaders to consult these episodes to help pave your path to leadership growth and success.

Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

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Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

• Supply Chain Recruiters
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In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers Podcast, we talk with Steve Simmerman, currently Vice-President of Global Alliances with Locus Robotics. Steve has extensive experience in supply chain automation and information systems. He provides how he got started in supply chain and the transitions he has made. Transitions that were inspired by carefully tracking industry trends and finding the opportunities to pursue what's next. Steve explains the value of one of those "What's Next?" as the role of robotics to make workers safer and be more productive AND be happier in their positions. He explains the role of a VP of Global Alliances and how to build business relationships nationally and internationally. Steve also points out the value of an extensive network, building partnerships, and understanding the relationships between people and technology. Steve closes with some of the best advice he has received and shares with others.

Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

• Supply Chain Recruiters
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In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers Podcast, we have Katie Fowler, President of Unchained Value. Katie starts with her career path prior to starting up Unchained Value, which most recently she spent 11 years at energy services firm Schlumberger, advancing through sourcing and costing focused roles, all the way up to a VP role. Plus two years at Fluke Electronics as a Master Scheduler and a Planner/Buyer. Katie said supply chain found her starting at 15 years old. She has operations experience and enjoyed learning and practicing Kaizen, plus she likes the puzzle solving aspect of supply chains. Katie shares what led her to start Unchained Value and what they do to help companies go through transformations. She talks with us about maintaining perspective, whether the view is 40,000 feet or 4 feet when trying to understand the big picture and on the ground. She also provides her thoughts on necessary hard and soft skills, how to be a better networker, and how to drive and cope with change. Katie closes with the best advice she has received and gives to others.

Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

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In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers podcast, we sit down with Walter Abreu, Director of Global Procurement at Del Monte, to discuss his fascinating career journey. Walter shares his experiences, starting from his early days in finance and international trade, leading to his current leadership role in global procurement. Tune in to learn about the critical hard and soft skills needed for success in procurement, including negotiation, market analysis, and effective communication. Walter also provides valuable insights on navigating challenges in the food and beverage industry, the importance of sustainability in procurement, and advice for those looking to build a career in this dynamic field. Whether you’re new to procurement or a seasoned professional, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge to help you grow in your career.

Listen now to explore the evolving role of procurement professionals and how to secure supply chains while balancing costs and sustainability goals.

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In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers podcast, we are joined by two key leaders from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) – Debbie Sparks, Executive Director, and Joe Ohr, Chief Operating Officer. Together, they share their journeys into the supply chain industry, the mission of NMFTA, and how they are helping to reshape the trucking world through digital innovation.

Listen as Debbie and Joe dive into the heart of the trucking industry, reflecting on their personal experiences and the evolution of the field. From managing disaster relief during Hurricane Katrina to tackling cybersecurity challenges in the digital era, they explore the critical role of people, technology, and collaboration in modern supply chain operations. They also offer invaluable career advice, covering topics like networking, learning from failure, and embracing industry changes.

Whether you're a seasoned supply chain professional or just starting your career, this episode offers deep insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the supply chain industry today, as well as actionable tips for career development.

Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

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The 19th episode of our Supply Chain Careers Leadership Series!

Welcome to the Supply Chain Careers Leadership Podcast! In this episode, hosts Chris Gaffney, Mike Ogle, and Rodney Apple dive into the essential skills, competencies, and experiences needed to ascend to the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) role. Join us as we explore strategic thinking, team building, financial acumen, change management, innovation, and the importance of a global perspective.

Chris shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience leading dynamic supply chains and highlights real-life success stories of individuals who have risen to the top. Whether you're an aspiring supply chain leader or looking to refine your leadership skills, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiring examples to help you reach the pinnacle of supply chain leadership.

Need help hiring top talent? Engage a recruiting firm that specializes in your hiring needs:

• Supply Chain Recruiters
• Operations Recruiters
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• Inventory Planning Recruiters
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